Pass line adjustment for a rolling mill

ABSTRACT

A pass line adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like comprises a load bearing arrangement mounted in an upper portion of a housing for said mill stand and juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back-up roll of the mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between the bearing arrangement and the bearing chock for load transmission purposes. The adjustment block includes a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of the bearing arrangement and the bearing chock to vary the separating distance between the bearing arrangement and the bearing chock.

Elnited States Patent [191 Petros et al. 1

[75] Inventors: Andrew J. Petros, Oakdale; Ronald D. Pizzedaz, Springdale, both of Pa.

[73] Assignee: Mesta Machine Company,

. Pittsburgh, Pa.

22 Filed: Sept. 15,1972

21 Appl.No.:289,7 56

[52] US. Cl. 72/244 [51] Int. Cl B21b 31/30 [58] Field of Search 72/244, 237, 241, 238

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 388,440 8/1888 Paton 72/244 [451 Apr. 23, 1974 1,741,405 l2/l929 Coe ..72/244X Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr [5 7] ABSTRACT A pass line adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like comprises a load bearing arrangement mounted in an upper portion of a housing for said mill stand and juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back-up roll of the mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between the bearing arrangement and the bearing chock for load transmission purposes. The adjustment block includes a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of the bearing arrangement and the bearing chock to vary the separating distance between the bearing arrangement and the bearing chock.

13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAPR 23 m4 sum 1 [IF 2 The present invention relates to a pass line adjustment for a rolling mill, and more particularly to an adjustment of the character described for making a series 'of incremental variations in the rolling mill pass line. In

it is highly desirabletomaintain an essentially constant pass line throughout the rolling mill irrespective of changes in work and/or back up roll diameters, including the substitution of work and/or back up rollshaving differing initial diameters. For this reason there has been an increasing trend toward fixed pass line operation.

Previously it has been the practice to operate rolling mills with a pass line, which is variable when work rolls or back up rolls of differing diameters are 'substituted. ln those production situations wherein a fixed pass line has been attempted, an approximate pass line adjustment is accomplished by the insertion of shims between the'bottom back up roll chocks and adjacent components of the mill stand; ln'mechanical mills the shims usually are inserted between'the chocks and the bottom components of the mill stand. ln hydraulic mills the shims can be inserted between the chocks and adjacent stationary components of the mill stand which are opposite the hydraulic cylinder arrangement which loads the mill stand. lnspectionof theshims in this manner involves considerable hazard as the extremely heavy lowerback-up rolls and bearing chocks therefor must be lifted to permit amill wright to insert the shim. To lessen personnel hazard, the mill rolls must be removed entirely from the mill stand for such insertion. In either case a considerable loss of production time is entailed. As these shims can-only be added and removed with considerable difficulty and expenditure of time, or in some cases considerable personnel hazard, only major adjustments in pass line have been made in this fashion. Although the screw downs do provide an infinite adjustment within the mechanical limits, the screw downs are complicated to manufacture, and necessitate considerable expenditures of power in operation. Their operation is rather slow, moreover, when relatively large changes in pass line position are required.

During roll changing operations, presence of conventionally used shims interferes with removaland insertion of the mill rolls as an integral assembly and unduly prolongs the rollchanging sequence. Much time during the roll changing operation can be saved if the various mill components can be withdrawn quickly to permitinsertion or use of constant center spacing blocks or dogs between mill roll, components such that the rolls can be withdrawn or inserted through the mill stand window as an integral assembly. Suitable dogs or fallaway spacer blocks for this purpose are disclosed and claimed in coassigned US. Pat. No. 3,475,940 to Andrew Petros. When the work and back up rolls supporting components can be quicklyand adequately withdrawn in this fashion in many cases the same spacer blocks can be used irrespective of changes in roll face diameters.

We overcome these disadvantages of the prior art in an unexpected manner through the provision of a rotatable-pass line adjustment having a relatively low power requirement and relative simplicity of construction. The adjustment is incremental in nature and more importantly in certain modifications thereof a full range of necessary adjustment is available by rotating the adjustment mechanism through approximately a half turn. The adjustment mechanism is particularly useful in conjunction with hydraulic rolling mills but also can be employed in mechanical rolling mills. The relatively small angulardisplacement of the adjustment mechanism permits attendant simplification of the pass line'position indicator. In accordance with another unique featue of our invention the adjustment mechanism permits selfalignm'ent of the back up roll bearings about a single axis, for improved bearing capability to compensate for the deflection curve of the rolls. v Along with elimination of the present screw and nut pass line adjustment, the provision of a brake on the pass line adjustment drive is obviated.

In accordance with a further feature of our invention, the pass line adjustment mechanism can unexpectedly be provided with means for quickly and properly opening the mill rolls for the roll-changing."sequence, and, desirably to an extent prescribed for use of the aforementioned spacing blocks for insertion and withdrawal of an integral mil] roll assembly. The latter position of the adjustment mechanism likewise can-be readily indicatedat the control console. in a typical installation a pair of the adjustment mechanisms can be mounted one in each mill stand housing in the upper portion thereof, generally in place of the usual screw down mechanism and drive therefor.

For major pass line adjustments or for other major shifts in roll location beyond the capability of a given adjustment mechanism, a shim can be inserted with ease between each of the adjustment mechanisms and the associated back up roll chock, by lowering the upper back-up roll on its balancing cylinders. The necessity of removing one or more of the mill rolls or for fine shimming is obviated by our invention.

I accomplish these desirable results by providing a mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comprising load bearing means mounted in an upper portion of a housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between said bearing means and said hearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustment block including a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary the separating distance between said bearing means and said bearing chock.

I also desirably provide a similar mill adjustment mechanism wherein said adjustment block is provided with an additional step having an elevation substantially'lower than any of the first-mentioned steps for roll changing purposes.

I also desirably provide a similar mill adjustment mechanism wherein said block is rotatably mounted on said housing, and means are provided for rotating said block.

I also desirably provide a similar mill adjustment mechanism wherein said block has a circular configuration and said steps are each configured as segmental areas thereon.

I also desirably provide a similar mill adjustment mechanism wherein said bearing means include a block of similar segmental configuration for alignment with any selected one of said steps.

During the foregoing discussion, various objects, features and advantages of the invention have been set forth. These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention together with structural details thereof will be elaborated upon during the forthcoming description of certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention and presently preferred methods of practicing the same.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention and have illustrated certain presently preferred methods of practicing the same, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinally sectioned view of an upper portion ofa typical mill housing and upper backup roll bearing chock showing the major components of the adjustment mechanism of the invention in elevation;

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinally sectioned view of the adjustment mechanism shown in FIG. 1 and taken along reference line II-II thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 and taken along reference line III-III thereof.

Referring now to the drawings with greater particularity, the exemplary embodiment of the adjustment mechanism 12 of the invention shown therein is mounted in the upper portion of a mill housing which can be one of the two mill housings usually provided in a mill stand 11. Two of the adjustment mechanisms 12 therefore are provided, with each of the mechanisms being positioned for insertion between an associated bearing chock 14 of upper back up roll 16 and a bearing arrangement, described below, mounted in the upper portion of the housing 10. The adjustment mechanism 12 is located, therefore, at the usual location of the conventional mill screw-down and in place thereof.

The adjustment mechanism 12 includes a rotatably mounted block 18 having a reduced or necked down under portion 20 shaped for surface engagement with the adjacent upper surface 22 of the bearing chock 14. The under portion 20, in selected applications of the application, can be provided with a recess 24 shaped to receive a conventional load cell 26 to which the usual electrical lead 28 is attached for example through contact fitting 30 extending through aperture 32 of the under portion 20. The flexible lead 28 can be coupled to suitable measuring and control circuitry (not shown) usually associated with a rolling mill including the mill stand 11. Desirably the load cell 26 is juxtaposed to bearing plate 34 covering the under portion recess 24, whereby a reactive component of the rolling force is transmitted to the load cell from the back up roll bearing chock 14. As required in the conventional usage of load cells, the load cell 26 can be shimmed (not shown) or the bearing plate 34 otherwise can be secured to the under portion 20 in such manner as to preload the load cell 26.

The adjustment block 18 is secured, in the illustrated arrangement, to the lower end of drive shaft 36 therefor which is rotatably mounted in passage 38 extending vertically through the upper end portion of the mill housing 10. The shaft 36 is located substantially at the location of the screw of a conventional screw-down mechanism, as evident from FIG. 1; Suitable means are provided for stabilizing the shaft 36 for rotation. For example the shaft 36 can be provided with an enlarged portion 40 adjacent the lower end thereof and closely fitted within bearing sleeve 42 which is in turn mounted within the housing 10. The upper end portion 46 of the shaft 36 can also be enlarged for close fitting insertion into a conventional hollow shaft reducer and drive mechanism noted generally by reference numeral 48. A suitable form of drive mechanism 48 is available from the DeLaval-I-Iolroyd Division of DeLaval Turbine, Inc., Trenton, New Jersey. Drive mechanism 48 includes a drive motor 50, reducer 52, worm 54, and worm gear 56. The worm gear 56 includes a transverse driving slug inserted through shaft slot 58 for rotating the shaft 36 while permitting longitudinal displacement thereof to the extent of the slot 58, for purposes described below. Other sliding or keying engagements between the shaft 36 and drive mechanism 48 can be used to permit longitudinal movement of the shaft as required. A protective tubular extension 60 can be mounted atop the drive mechanism 48 to receive the variably protruding upper end portion of the shaft 36 when the latter is elevated as likewise described below.

. Each of the bearing members or blocks 66, 68 is are of integral design with a mounting plate 70 which is recessed flushly into countersunk area 62 of the housing 10, such that forces applied to the bearing blocks 66, 68 during operation of the mill stand 11 are for the most part absorbed directly by the adjacent surfaces of the housing 10. This mounting arrangement is shown best in FIG. 2.

The upper surface of the adjustment block 18, which desirably is circular in the illustrated application, is provided with a stepped configuration as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The individual steps 72 of the adjustment block 18 provide incremental variations in elevation and these increments 72 are angularly displaced about the upper surface of the adjustment block 18 as better shown in FIG. 3. Each of the steps 72 accordingly are of segmental configuration owing to the exemplary circular contour of the adjustment block 18.

The steps or elevations 72 are arranged into series of increasing elevation and two such series are repeated about the circular face of the adjustment block 18. Thus, each of the segments 72 for example step 72a (FIG. 1) has an associated step, for example 72a, diametrically opposite. Hence, the bearing blocks 66, 68 are disposed for hearing engagement with a selected pair of diametrically opposed steps such as the pair of steps 72a, 72a. For reasons explained below, the bearing blocks 66, 68, which are thus diametrically disposed relative to the shaft 36 and adjustment block 12, are located on a common axis transverse to the rotational axis of the back-up roll 16. As better shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the bearing block 66, 68 are of similar segmental configuration in cross section such that the bearing block can be aligned respectively with a selected diametrically opposed pair of the steps 72. A given pair of the steps 72 of equal elevation and hence a selected longitudinal displacement of the shaft 36 and adjustment block 18 relative to the stationary bearing block 66, 68 can be selected by rotation of the adjustment block 18 by operation of the driving mechanism 48.

v In accordance with a further feature of the invention the two series of elevation steps 72 can be separated by a pair of relatively deep roll change steps or segments 72b and 72b which are likewise diametrically opposed as shown in FIG. 3 and are disposed on the same elevation with respect to one another. However, as shown in FIG. 2 the roll change steps or segments 72b, 72b' are much more deeply stepped than the remainder of the segments 72. The roll change segments otherwise are desirably of the same configuration in plan (FIG. 3) as that of the remaining segments 72. The bearing blocks 66, 68 are provided with sufficient elevation as evident from FIG. 2 for complete insertion into the roll change segments 72b, 72b without'interference from adjacent segments or from the mounting plate 70. This permits relatively complete withdrawal of the adjustment block 12 and its shaft 36 to the extent permitted by the depth of the roll change segments 72b, 72b and the length of the shaft slot 58 discussed previously..Accordingly the upper back up roll 16 and its bearing chocks 14 can be elevated sufficiently as by operation of conventional balancing plungers (not shown) to permit removal of the work rolls (not shown) as a dogged or integral assembly.

The exact depth of the roll change segments 72b, 72!) can be greater or lesser than that shown depending upon the amount of separation between the back up rolls of the given mill stand to permit withdrawal and insertion of the work rolls as a unitary. assembly. Likewise. the incremental changes in elevation among the remaining segments 72 including the semgnets -72a, 720 can be varied for a particular application such that work rolls within a range of face diameters can be employed as desired for a given mill stand when operated with constant or essentially constant pass line. The range of work roll diameters (and also of back-up roll diameters) which .can be accommodated in this fashion will be determined by the overall difference in elevation between the highest or minimum roll diameter segments 72a, 72a and the lowest or'maximum roll diameter segments 72c, 72c (FIG. 3). In these latter considerations, the roll change segments 72b, 72b, when used, desirably are of substantially lower elevation (FIG. 2) than the adjacent maximum diameter roll segments 72c, 720', in order to permit an efficient roll change of maximum diameter mill rolls, when used.

In certain applications a range of mill roll diameters smaller than the diameters normally accommodated by the adjustment block 12 can be used in the mill stand 1-1 by interposing a shim plate, denoted by chain outline 74 thereof in FIG. 1, between the upper surface of each back up roll bearing chock 14 and the associated adjustment block 12. This has the effect, of course, of uniformly increasing the elevation of each of the adjustment block segments 72, and permits insertion of smaller diameter back up rolls or work rolls or both which could not normally be accommodated by the highest elevation segments 72a, 72a.

Entry of foreign matter onto the bearing surfaces of the elevating segments 72 or on the bearing surfaces 76 of the blocks 66, 68 is prevented by sleeve 78 secured to the adjacent inner surfaces of the housing and surrounding the bearing block 66, 68 and an upper por- Desirably the bearing surfaces 76' of the bearing block 66, 68 are cylindrical in contour as better shown in FIG. 2. As noted previously the long axes of the surfaces 76 are disposed transversely of the rotational axes of the mill rolls such that the adjustment mechanism shaft 36 can deflect and the adjustment block 18 can thereby tilt slightly relative to the bearing blocks 66, 68 while maintaining a proper bearing contact therewith during operation of the mill stand 11. This allows a proper flush contact between the adjustment block 18 and'the associated back up roll chock 14 as the latter follows the deflection curve of the rolls during the rolling operation. This permits the back up roll chocks l4 and the adjustment blocks 18 which transmits the hearing forces therefrom to the bearing blocks66, 68 and thence to.the housing 10, to self-align about a single axis. Complicated spherical bearing surfaces are thereby obivated.

In'operation of the adjustment mechanisms 12 the upper back up roll 16 is first lowered to its lowermost position for example by operation of the aforesaid back up roll balancing plungers. Upon such displacement of the back up roll bearing chocks 14 from the adjustment mechanisms 12, the shafts 36 and adjustement blocks 18 thereof descend by gravity to their lower most positions as permitted by the bearing chock surface 22 or the shaft slot 58. At this position suitable clearances are provided such that the drive mechanism 48 can rotate the shaft 36- and adjustment block 18 to juxtapose a selected pair of the segments 72 to the bearing blocks 66, 68, respectively. The selected segements can be either the roll change segments 72b, 7217 if used, or any-of the remaining segments, which are the pass line adjustment segments including the minimum diameter roll segments 72a, 72a or the maximum diameter roll segments 72c, 720. When the adjustment blocks 18 thus have been angularly positioned with respect to the bearing blocks 66, 68 the back up roll 16 is then raised to its operating position which is defined by bearing engagement of the selected pair of segments 72 with the bearing surfaces 76 of the bearing blocks 66, 68 and by bearing engagement of the under portions 20 with the roll chocks 14.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a novel and efficient mill roll adjustment has been described herein. The descriptive and illustrative materials employed herein are utilized for purposes of exemplifying the invention and not in limitation thereof. Accordingly, numerousmodifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood,-

moreover, that certain features of the invention can be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features thereof.

We claim:

1. A mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comprising load bearing means mounted in an upper portion of a housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between said bearing means and said bearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustment block including an array of uniformly stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary stepwise the separating distance between said bearing means and said bearing chock, said array of surfaces ascending in a given direction about said block.

2. A mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comrpising load bearing means mounted in a upper portion of a housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between said bearing means and said bearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustment lock including a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary the separating distance between said bearing means and said bearing chock, said adjustment block having an additional step at an elevation substantially lower than any of the firstmentioned steps for roll changing purposes.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said block is rotatably mounted on said housing, and means are provided for rotating said block.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said block has a circular configuration and said stepped surfaces are each configured for rotating said block.

5. A mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comprising load bearing means mounted in an upper portion ofa housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between said bearing means and said bearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustment block including a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary the separating distacne between said bearing means and said bearing chock, said block being rotatably mounted on said housing, means for rotating said block, said block having a circular configuration, said steps each being configured as segmental areas on said block, said bearing means including a member of a similar segmental configuration for alignment with any selected one of said steps.

6. A mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comprising load bearing means mounted in an upper portion ofa housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mill stand, and anadjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between said bearing means and said bearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustment block including a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary the separating distance between said bearing means and said bearing chock, said block being rotatably mounted on said housing, means for rotating said block, said block having a circular configuration, said steps each being configured as segmental areas on said block, said steps being arranged in two repetitive series, with each step of one series having a predetermined elevation to which a diametrically opposed step of the other series conforms.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said bearing means include a pair of bearing blocks diametrically disposed relative to an axis of rotation of said. adjustment block.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said bearing blocks are disposed on an axis transverse to a rotational axis of an adjacent mill roll, and the bearing faces of said blocks are shaped to provide a rolling contact with a selected pair of said segments to that said adjustment block and said chock can self-align with the deflection curve of said roll.

9. A mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comprising load bearing means mounted in an upper portion of a housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for hearing insertion between said bearing means and said bearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustmment block including a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary the separating distance between said bearing means and said bearing chock, said block being rotatably mounted on said housing, means for rotating'said block, said rotational means including a driving mechanism and a shaft to which said adjustment block is affixed for rotation therewith, said shaft being slidably engaged with said driving mechanism.

1 10. A mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comprising load bearing means mounted in an upper portion ofa housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mil] stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between said bearing means and said hearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustment block including a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary the separating distane between said bearing means and said bearing chock, said adjustment block having a recess on a face opposite from said stepped surfaces, and a load cell seated in said recess, said load cell being disposed for bearing engagement with the other of said bearing means and said bearing chock.

11. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said stepped surfaces are disposed for engagement with said bearing means, and said adjustment block is provided with a necked-down portion shaped for surface engagement with said bearing chock.

12. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said rotating means include a drive shaft secured to said adjustment block, said drive shaft being located substantially at the location of the screw of a conventional mill screw-down mechanism and in place thereof.

13. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment mechanism is disposed substantially at the location of a conventional mill screw-down mechanism and in place thereof. 

1. A mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comprising load bearing means mounted in an upper portion of a housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between said bearing means and said bearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustment block including an array of uniformly stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary stepwise the separating distance between said bearing means and said bearing chock, said array of surfaces ascending in a given direction about said block.
 2. A mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comrpising load bearing means mounted in a upper portion of a housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between said bearing means and said bearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustment lock including a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary the separating distance between said bearing means and said bearing chock, said adjustment block having an additional step at an elevation substantially lower than any of the first-mentioned steps for roll changing purposes.
 3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said block is rotatably mounted on said housing, and means are provided for rotating said block.
 4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said block has a circular configuration and said stepped surfaces are each configured for rotating said block.
 5. A mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comprising load bearing means mounted in an upper portion of a housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between said bearing means and said bearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustment block including a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary the separating distacne between said bearing means and said bearing chock, said block being rotatably mounted on said housing, means for rotating said block, said block having a circular configuration, said steps each being configured as segmental areas on said block, said bearing means including a member of a similar segmental configuration for alignment with any selected one of said steps.
 6. A mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comprising load bearing means mounted in an upper portion of a housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between said bearing means and said bearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustment block including a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary the separating distance between said bearing means and said bearing chock, said block being rotatably mounted on said housing, means for rotating said block, said block having a circular configuration, said steps each being configured as segmental areas on said block, said steps being arranged in two repetitive series, with each step of one series having a predetermined elevation to which a diametrically opposed step of the other series conforms.
 7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said bearing means include a pair of bearing blocks diametrically disposed relative to an axis of rotation of said adjustment block.
 8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said bearing blocks are disposed on an axis transverse to a rotational axis of an adjacent mill roll, and the bearing faces of said blocks are shaped to provide a rolling contact with a selected pair of said segments to that said adjustment block and said chock can self-align with the deflection curve of said roll.
 9. A mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comprising load bearing means mounted in an upper portion of a housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between said bearing means and said bearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustmment block including a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary the separating distance between said bearing means and said bearing chock, said block being rotatably mounted on said housing, means for rotating said block, said rotational means including a driving mechanism and a shaft to which said adjustment block is affixed for rotation therewith, said shaft being slidably engaged with said driving mechanism.
 10. A mill adjustment mechanism for a rolling mill stand or the like, said mechanism comprising load bearing means mounted in an upper portion of a housing for said mill stand, said bearing means being spacedly juxtaposed to a bearing chock for a back up roll of said mill stand, and an adjustment block disposed for bearing insertion between said bearing means and said bearing chock for load transmission purposes, said adjustment block including a plurality of stepped surfaces disposed for selected engagement with one of said bearing means and said bearing chock to vary the separating distane between said bearing means and said bearing chock, said adjustment block having a recess on a face opposite from said stepped surfaces, and a load cell seated in said recess, said load cell being disposed for bearing engagement with the other of said bearing means and said bearing chock.
 11. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said stepped surfaces are disposed for engagement with said bearing means, and said adjustment block is provided with a necked-down portion shaped for surface engagement with said bearing chock.
 12. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said rotating means include a drive shaft secured to said adjustment block, said drive shaft being located substantially at the location of the screw of a conventional mill screw-down mechanism and in place thereof.
 13. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment mechanism is disposed substantially at the location of a conventional mill screw-down mechanism and in place thereof. 